Wichita eagle., 1887-05-13
OVER THE RIO cRANpE,
The Old Adobe Town Of Paso Del Norte.
Sceuea Along the Railroad.

| The Old Adobe Town Of Paso Del Norte.
Scenes Along the Railroad.
| Crossing the iron bridge over the Flo
Grande the first place is Paso Del Norte, a
Mexican town of about 6 200 inhabitants. It
Is an Old adobe town, embowered in trees and
vines As we passed rapidly through its
dusty streets and glided by its gay houses
surrounded by high adobe walls, beautiful
gardens, rich with flowers and trees Of mag
nificent foliage, were to be seen on either
side. Here and there picturesque group OF
natives, clad in cotton shirts and pants, their
heads shaded by straw sonlbreros Of huge di-
rnerSions, were at work in the fields or idling
beneath the shade of magnificent trees
Again they were to be seen tramping behind
the patient burro, or riding that useful ami
mi through the dusty streets. 1t is a conf
cal sight TO see little, dusky, long cared ami
NAL carrying native whose feet are hanging
within foot or so Of mother earth; or pack
ing a load Of wood or hay so large that one
can only see head decorated with pair ct
long ears, -four feet in rapid motion and
tail wagging Us if it expressed naught but
pleasure and contentInent.
In the doors and windows now and then
we caught glimpse Of a senorita, who
favored Us with a glance from pair Of
sparkling eyes. Little bare legged urchins
seemed 70 be plentiful, and as they ran out
IN the dust 70 view the train or stood clnging
timidly TO their mothers skirts We could not
help wondering what their ideas of the iron
horse were and what changes American CAPT
tai and energy would make in their land ere
they passed the line that divides childhood
and manhood Paso Del Norte lies in
beautiful valley and the surrounding mount
aims standing with the shadows of the setting
sun upon them, enhanced the scene by their
picturesqueness. In a few moments we az
rived at the Mexican Central station, a fine
adobe structure with an open court, in the
center of which were magnificent tropical
plants and flowers. There are ample veran-
das on all sides, on which open offices, waiting
rooms and a restaurant After partaking Of
good supper we attended to our baggage
The custom officers examined i. and placed
card on every article, which permitted it TO
enter the republic They were very courte-
GUS and by no means prying in their examin-
alton.
Leaving Paso Del Norte we pass through the
country south, along valleys surrounded by
low mountain ranges and through the rich
pastures Of San Juan, Ercinales and Sauz.
T'asch niue stdtlol pctus AoFln It's CTO"u oi
dusky inhabitants, and although we hear
the click Of the telegraph and see the well
known sign of Wells-Fargo, we look in vain
for the enterprisiHg american. Vendors of
fruit, candies, milk, chocolate and bread cry
their goods upon each side Of US wherever We
made stoppage. The country is pastoral
one on an enormous scale. Many thousands
of cattle are grazing near the track and their
trails run in all directions. As there are TO
fences we often hear the sharp loot Of the
whistle, and as we crane our necks out Of the
window we see cattle and other animals
scampering away from the train. Night ap-
preaching we withdrew from the windows,
and after Willing away few hours card
playing, singing, etc, we retired to our COM
Portable berths.-Cor San Francisco Chroni- !